Ball discharging device for bowling alleys



Jan. 18, 1955 s. A. FRYE BALL DISCHARGING DEVICE FOR BOWLING ALLEYS 5Sheets-Sheet 1 Original Filed NOV. 13, 1945 'unmrmu, u 1| 1 mm H Qu to1414 S. A. FRYE Jan. 18, 1955 BALL DI SCHARGING DEVICE FOR BOWLINGALLEYS 3 SheetS-Shger, 2

Original Filed Nov. 13, 1945 SANDERS A. FRYE s. A. FRYE BALL DISCHARGINGosvxcrz FOR BOWLING ALLEYS Jan. 18, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original FiledNov. 13, 1945 SANDERS A. FRYE United States Patent C BALL DISCHARGINGDEVICE FOR BOWLING ALLEYS Sanders A. Frye, Westerville, Ohio, assignorto American Machine & Foundry Company, a corporation of New JerseyOriginal application November 13, 1945, Serial No. 628,040. Divided andthis application October 4, 1950, Serial No. 188,342

6 Claims. (Cl. 273-49) This invention has reference to automaticpit-discharging apparatus for bowling alleys, an object thereof being toprovide improved mechanical means whereby bowllng balls, deposited inthe pit of a bowling alley, are removed from the pit and deposited on arunway for their return to the players, the operations being executedwithout manual aid and in an automatic manner.

While attempts have been made in the prior art to solve the problem ofautomatically delivering balls to return apparatus for quick return to aplayer, such attempts have not proven wholly satisfactory for variousreasons; chiefly, however, because of the failure of the art to developreliably operating devices for handling balls so that they can bedelivered rapidly to a ball return for return to a player at the playersend of a bowling alley.

Accordingly, it is another object of the invention to provide positiveand reliable means for delivering balls rapidly to a return runway forreturn to a player.

It is another object of the invention to provide improved means forelevating bowling balls from the alley pit to a suitable ball returnrunway for return to a player.

In connection with the foregoing, I have developed a number of novelstructural details and part arrangements all of which may be thoroughlyunderstood by reference to the following description and theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the rear portion of a bowling alleydisclosing the improved ball handling mechanism employed in carrying outthe present invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view taken on the planeindicated by line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of a preferred embogiment of theball elevator constituting the invention; an

Figure 4 is a front elevational view thereof.

The automatic bowling alley apparatus disclosed in the accompanyingdrawings is concerned particularly with mechanism for collecting thepins and balls forced into the pit at the rear end of the bowling alley,separating balls from pins and returning the balls to players. Thepresent application constitutes a division of my copending application,Serial Number 628,040, filed November 13, 1945, for Automatic Apparatusfor Discharging Pins and Balls from the Pits of Bowling Alleys, nowPatent 2,622,879 granted December 23, 1952.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, the nu meral 20 designatesthe pin receiving area at the rear of a bowling alley 21. At the rear ofthe alley is a pit 22, which is adapted to receive balls and toppledpins, knocked and otherwise positively removed from the area 20. The pitat each side is provided with upright side walls or kickbacks 23, andbetween these Walls a swinging backstop 24 is mounted to arrest rearwardmovement of the balls and pins received in the pit.

The backstop may be of any suitable form, such as shown in Patent2,622,879, wherein there is provided an outer frame 25, which isgenerally rectangular in configuration, except that one of the lowercorners thereof is recessed as at 26. Adjacent to its upper portion, theframe 25 is formed with tnlnnions 27 which are received in brackets 28carried by the side walls 23, and by which the backstop is fulcrumed forswinging movement about a substantially horizontal axis. Within theouter frame 25, the backstop includes an inner slidably adjustable2,699,945 Patented Jan. 18, 1955 frame 29, the latter carrying a backpanel 30. Also positioned in the frame 29 is a plurality of cushions(not shown), formed from any suitable yieldable material. Each of thesecushions has attached to the forward portion thereof a flexible apron(not shown), and the upper edges of these aprons are fastened to theupper horizontal member of the frame 29, whereby the individual cushionsare maintained in their desired vertical positions and are preventedfrom sinking or compacting downwardly within the limits of the frame 29.

The outer frame 25 carries at the front thereof a heavy covering 33 ofleather or the like, which receives the impact of the balls or pinsdelivered to the pit, the upper and lower edges of the covering 33 beingsuitably secured to the top and bottom horizontal members of the frame25. The outer frame also carries brackets 34 having threaded openingsfor the reception of adjusting screws 35, the inner ends of said screwsengaging the back panel 30 whereby to elfect sliding adjustment of theinner frame 29 so that the cushions may be held in desired engagementwith the outer covering 33, thus producing an eflicient cushioning meansfor arresting movement of the balls and pins.

The sides of the alley 21 are provided with the usual parallel gutters36, and mounted on one or more of the side walls 23 is a runway 37 bywhich the bowling balls, shown at 38, may be returned from the pit tothe forward or players end of the alley. The side walls 23 also carry attheir upper edges a pair of guide tracks 39 in the form of channelmembers, and movable longitudinally along these tracks is a pin settingmechanism indicated generally by the numeral 40.

In the present application, this pin setting mechanism has not beenshown in detail, but the same is preferably of the type disclosed in myco-pending application, Serial No. 577,367, now Patent 2,550,919. Thesurfaces of the side walls or kickbacks 23 facing the alley 21 in thepit 22 may be provided with a wear-resisting or re-enforcing material41, and above the backstop 24, and between the walls 23 is a suitablymounted horizontally disposed top panel 42, which latter, in connectionwith the backstop, conceals the pit discharging apparatus, hereinaftermore fully described, from the view of the players.

Disposed on the floor or base of the pit 22, and below the horizontalplane of the alley area 20, is a pair of transversely extending,parallel channel members 43, the upper flanges of the latter carrying ahorizontally disposed conveyor floor 44. Rotatably supported at the endsof the channel members 43 are rolls 45 around which pass an endlessconveyor belt 46 of rubber or rubberized fabric. One of the rolls 45 isprovided with a shaft 47 carrying at its end a worm gear 48, the teethof the latter meshing with a worm 49, which is driven by the sprocketand chain construction 50 from a motor-actuated drive shaft 51, thusimparting movement to the belt 46 so that its upper run advanceslaterally or transversely of the pit in the direction indicated by thearrow A in Figure l. The balls and pins engaging the backstop are thuspositioned on the upper Inn of the belt 46 and are advanced therebylaterally of the pit in order that when discharged from the belt 46, thesame will be deposited on the upper run of a longitudinally positionedconveyor belt 52 arranged at one side of the pit 22, as shown moreparticularly in Figures 1 and 2.

The belt 52 is supported by a frame 53 supported on the floor surface ofthe pit 22. The frame 53 carries at its ends rolls 54 around which thebelt 52 passes, one of the rolls being driven by any suitable means (notshown) from the drive shaft 51. The upper run of the belt 52 is disposedin a horizontal plane somewhat below that of the upper run of the belt46, in order to facilitate transfer of the balls or pins from thetransverse belt to the longitudinally movable belt. The roll 54 at theforward end of the pit is longitudinally adjustable in frame bearings,as indicated at 55, so that the belt 52 may be maintained in a tautoperating condition. A similar adjustment may be provided for one of therolls of the belt 46. The longitudinal belt 52 is disposed inregistration with and below the recessed portion 26 of the backstop 24,said recess being provided in order that ample clearance will be presentto permit of the passage of the ballscarried by the upper run of thebelt 52 beneath the backsto nother horizontally disposed andtransversely posltioned carrier belt 56 is locatedat the rear of the pitbebind the backstop. Thisbelt, as shown in F1gures l, 3 and 4, issupportedby a channel-member 57. The vertic-aLfl-anges of thischannelm-ember carry brackets (not shown) which support a belt-floor 59over theupper surface of which the upper run of the belt 56 advances inthe-directionindicated by the arrow B-of Figure 1-.

At the end ofthe channel member 57 in registration with the belt 52, alongitudinally adjustable belt-t ghtening bearing of conventional design(not shown) is provided for the reception of a roll 61 around which thebelt 56 travels. The opposite endof this belt passes over a complementalroll 62 which is driven by the chain and sprocket construction 63- fromthe drive shaft 51. Adjacentto the rear longitudinal edge of the belt56, and in registration with the discharge end of the belt 2, the pitis'providedwith a cushion 64, the latter serving to arrest rearwardmovement of the pins and balls when the same are discharged from thebelt 52 and insure their proper deposit on the upper run of the belt 56.

The discharge 'end of the belt 52 and the sides of the belt 56 may beprovided with stationary guide bars 65 for confining the pins and ballsto the upper surfaces of said belts for longitudinal movement in unisontherewith.

The belt 56 advances the bowling balls 38 to a ball elevator 66, shownin'detail in Figures 3 and 4. By this elevator, the balls are removedfrom the belt 56 and separated from the bowling pins, the latter, by theoperation of the belt 56, being carried through the elevator 66 Withoutengaging the same and'beingin turn elevated by a pin elevator 67, seeFigure 1. Since pin elevator 67 forms no part of this invention, furtherdescription and showing thereof are deemed unnecessary.

The ballelevator 66 comprises a pair of upright metallic frame members68, suitably supported in spaced parallel relationship from the floor ofthe pit 22, the frame members being dis'posed on opposite sides ofthebelt 56. At their lower ends, the frame members 68 are equippedwithbearihgs 69 for the'rotatable support of the shaftv extensions 70 ofa pair of driving rolls 71, suitably driven by powerderived from theshaft 51. At their upper ends, the frame members 68 carry verticallyadjustable bearings 72 for the rotatable support of the shaft extensionsof a pair of adjustable rolls 73. Elevator belts 74 pass around eachpair of vertically aligned rolls 7i and 73, said belts having theirouter surfaces formed at spaced intervals with projections or ridges 75.The spacing of the upwardly traveling runs ofthe belts 74 is such as to.receive between them (see Figure 3) a bowling ball 38 of standarddiameter, the projections or ridges 75 being arranged to engage the ballbeneath the horizontal plane intersecting its center to cause positiveelevation of the ball or balls, lifting the s-arnefrom the upper surfaceof the belt 56 and, advancingthem upwardly throughout the full height ofthe elevator 66.

The frame members 68 areunited at intervals by horizontally disposed tiebolts 76 which have their threaded ends positioned in openings formed inbracket extensions 77' carried by the edges'of the frame members 68, thethreaded ends of saidtie bolts being equipped with nuts 78 holding theframe members 68 in fixed relationship with respect to eachother.

'Piv otally mounted on one of the tie bolts is the lower end of a ballsupporter 79. As the balls move upwardly of the'elevator, the sameengage the supporter 79, pivotally deflecting the latter so that theangularly directed upper end 80 is positioned in a trough 81 leading toone of the ball return runways 37. Also, the adjustable bearings 72 atthe upper ends of the frame memberscarry a weightedplate 82 having itslower edge pivotally mounted as at 83, the function of the plate 82being to apply a laterally directed forceto each ball when the samereaches theupper end of the elevator, causing the ball to be positivelyejected and forced into the trough 81. Usually, in the operation of theelevator, and due to the fact that but one ball is thrown down the alleyat a time, the elevator in its operation is called upon to elevate atany one time but a single ball. As shown in Figure 4, when the ballsreach the tops of the elevator belts, 74, the same clear the. supporter79, allowing the latter to swing rearwardly, either by gravitation orspring force, so that the angular end at the top of the supporter willbe positioned beneath the ball as it reaches its maximurn'p'oint ofelevation and immediately prior to the disengagement of the elevatorbelts from the same, thus providing a positive support for the ballwhile the plate 82 is functioning to force the ball into the trough 81.Upon being so deposited, the ball gravitates to the return runway 37 andis thence conducted to the forward or players position on the alley.

While I have described what I consider to be certain preferredstructural forms of my improvedmechanism, nevertheless it will beunderstood that the mechanisms illustrated and described are subject tocertain modification or variation. without.- departing from the spiritand scope of the following claims.

What I claim is:

1. Ball handling apparatus for a bowling alley having a pit at the endof said alley, means for delivering a ball in said pit to aball pick upstation, a vertically disposed ball elevator located in ball'engagingposition at said station, said elevatorIembody-ing a frame, spacedsubstantially vertically'traveling ball gripping devices carried by saidframe and disposed on opposite sides of said ball pick up station, theconstruction and spacing of said devices being such as to enable thesame to receive between them and engage andgrip a ball at said station,whereby to elevate the ballsubstantially vertically and discharge saidball at the upper end of said frame, and ball'return means cooperativewiththe upper end of said elevator for receiving balls discharged fromsaid elevator, and means for returning said balls to the head of saidalley.

2. Automatic ball handling apparatus for bowling alleys, comprisinglinearly movable conveyor means for removing bowling balls from thepitof a bowling alley and conducting the same rearwardly in -a confinedcourse of travel to the rear of said'pit, a pair of transversely spacedrelatively stationary frame members mounted on the pit floor and betweenwhich members said conveyor means passes, a pair of. spaced endlesselevator belts carried by said frame members and coextensive with theheight thereof, said belts being provided with vertically spacedtransversely extending laterally aligned ridges, means supporting saidbelts in spaced relationship and disposed at opposite sides of saidconveyor means to enable said belt and ridges to engage and grip a ballon said conveyor means, whereby to elevate the ball to the top of saidframe members, a return chute at the top and at one side of saidelevator belts, andmeans'at the top of the elevator belts for engagingbowling balls raised by said endless belts and positively forcing thesame into the receiving endof saidchute.

3. Automatic ball handling. apparatus for bowling alleys, comprisinglinearly movableconveyor means. for removing bowling balls from the pitof a bowling alley and conducting the same rearwardly ina confinedcourseof travel to the rear of'said pit, an elevator comprising a pair oftransversely spaced relatively stationary frame members mounted on thepit floor and between which members said conveyor means passes, a pairof spaced endless elevator belts carried by said frame members andcoextensive with the height thereof, saidrbelts being provided withvertically spaced transversely extending laterally aligned ridges, andmeans supporting said belts in spaced relationship and. disposed atopposite sides ofsaid conveyor means to enable saidbelts and ridges toengage and grip a bowling ball positioned-on and traveling with saidconveyor means, whereby to elevate'the ball to the tops of said-framemembers, a return chute at the top and at one side of the elevator,means at the top of the elevator for engaging bowling balls raised bysaid endless belts and positively forcing. the same into the. receivingend of said chute, and movable. supporting means carried by one of. saidframe members and engageable with the bottom of a bowling ball;tovsupport the same at the time the ball is being. discharged'fro'mtheupper. end of the elevator into said'chute.

4. Ball handling apparatus. for. a bowling alley having a pit at the.end of said alley, means for delivering a ball in said. pit to a ballpickup. station, a vertic'ally'dispo'sed elevator located in ballengaging position at said station, said elevator including aframehavin'g a pair of transversely spaced vertically traveling ballvgripping devices carried thereby and disposed on opposite sides of saidball. pick up station, said devices being provided'with verticallyspaced transversely extending laterally" aligned ridges, the spacing ofsaid devices and the ridges thereon being such as to enable the same toreceive between them and engage and grip a ball at said station, andmeans for driving said traveling ball gripping devices to elevate theball gripped between them to a point of discharge from said frame.

5. Ball handling apparatus for bowling alleys having a pit at the rearof the alley, said apparatus comprising pit conveyor means arranged toreceive balls rolling into said pit, a vertically disposed ball elevatorpositioned over said conveyor means, said elevator embodying a framehaving spaced vertically traveling ball gripping devices carried therebyand disposed on opposite sides of said conveyor means, the constructionand spacing of said devices being such as to enable the same to receivebetween them and engage and grip a ball moving along said conveyormeans, whereby to elevate the ball vertically to the upper end of saidframe, and means positioned adjacent the upper end of said frame fordirecting a ball delivered by said devices onto a return runway.

6. Ball handling apparatus for bowling alleys having a pit arranged atthe rear of the pin receiving region of the alley, said apparatusembodying conveyor means in said pit, said conveyor means beingoperative to convey a ball to a ball delivery station, a verticallydisposed ball elevator positioned adjacent said delivery station, saidelev-ator including a frame having spaced vertically traveling ballgripping devices carried thereby, said devices being arranged at thesides of said delivery station and having opposed surfaces thereofformed With laterally aligned ball supporting ridges, the spacing ofsaid devices and ridges being such as to enable the same to receivebetween them and engage and grip a ball moving along said conveyormeans, whereby to elevate the ball vertically from said station to apoint of discharge, a ball return runway, and means located adjacent theupper end of said frame for directing a ball from said devices onto saidreturn runway.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS337,643 Whiting Mar. 9, 1886 1,375,835 Fairchild Apr. 26, 1921 1,586,831Murphy June 1, 1926 1,896,383 White e Feb. 7, 1933 1,901,928 Olson Mar.21, 1933 2,242,069 Heiniger May 13, 1941 2,319,925 Flanagan May 25, 1943

